R.I.P. George Carlin: An 18+ Appreciation

They say that behind every cynic is a disappointed idealist, and there was no better or funnier illustration of that than comic George Carlin. He said that mankind is going to hell in a handbasket, due mostly to our own stupidity and hypocrisy, and claimed to find our doom entertaining. But in pointing it out, of course, he was showing a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, we can change in time to save ourselves. Especially if he made our failures laughable.

Bad Words. That's what they told us they were, remember? "That's a bad word!" No bad words, bad thoughts, bad intentions, and words. You know the seven, don't you, that you can't say on television? "Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker, and Tits." Those are the heavy seven. Those are the ones that'll infect your soul, curve your spine, and keep the country from winning the war. "Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker, and Tits" Wow! ...and Tits doesn't even belong on the list. That is such a friendly sounding word. It sounds like a nickname, right? "Hey, Tits, come here, man. Hey Tits, meet Toots. Toots, Tits. Tits, Toots." It sounds like a snack, doesn't it? Yes, I know, it is a snack. I don't mean your sexist snack. I mean New Nabisco Tits!, and new Cheese Tits, Corn Tits, Pizza Tits, Sesame Tits, Onion Tits, Tater Tits. "Betcha Can't Eat Just One." - From "The 7 Words You Can Never Say On Television." (Complete text at Lyrics Box.)

Best known for the seven-words routine - and his coke-fueled hosting of the very first "Saturday Night Live" - Carlin died Sunday of heart failure at 71, having performed as recently as last week.There's a good story here.

UPDATE: I just found this Salon interview where he actually talks about the "disappointed idealist" quote.